Customer Reviews

Hatchepsut: The Female Pharaoh

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am big fan of Tyldesley, having read her other book 'Daughters of Isis', a study of women in ancient Egypt. She is a very well researched scholar who stays to the tradition of stating all the possible interpretations of her data.Overall I found her writing to be easy to read, but as a classics minor I sometimes forget most people are not familiar with the minute details of the Egyptian civilization. With this in mind, some might find her many references to other dynasties and kingdoms to be a little bit confusing. As most of this book is based on archeological reasearch it is almost impossible to consider this a biography. Those expecting firm facts about Hatchepsut's life will be dissapointed. Tyldesley manages to debate the many facts known to us and she compiles them into concise chapters. I recommend this book to anyone who has already been exposed to Ancient Egypt in some form. For those people who have yet to get their feet wet - read 'Daughters of Isis' first.

Joyce Tyldesley's Hatchepsut: The Female Pharaoh is more than a good introduction to the title figure from ancient Egyptian history. The book is, in a way, Hatshepsut's biography; however it is quite honest about the amount of evidence that survives today--very little--and therefore does not pretend that some sort of definitive and personal narrative of the Pharaoh's life is possible. Instead of giving a year-by-year account of Hatshepsut and her life, the book presents and examines its subject in terms of historiography. Tyldesley discusses previous theories and extant evidence in a frank manner while offering her own interpretations, which tend to legitimize Hatshepsut's reign (and are sometimes quite compelling). Because there is so little evidence and the subject of Hatshepsut, a woman who ruled Egypt as a Pharaoh, is so easily entangled is people's own ideas about gender and power, all these interpretations--including Tydesley's--involve a degree of bias. This was particularly the case when scholars argued from silence, constructing their own ideas about Hatshepsut based on the logic of contemporary gender roles but in the absence of tangible facts. To address such interpretations by previous scholars, Tyldesley has had to put forth arguments in this same vacuum. She recognizes that interpretation without corroborating evidence is fundamentally problematic, and, when it comes to such difficult topics, she makes a laudable effort to be honest about how just what is and is not firm fact, and to give previous scholars their due credit. Overall, then, the book does an excellent job of problematizing the study of Hatshepsut--of showing what we know, what we assume (and why), and what is still wholly mystery. Those who read this book even slightly critically should come away with a decently balanced view of Hatshepsut.
At the same time as she displays a scholar's caution in weighing evidence and interpretation, Tyldesley writes a very readable book. This is not a novel or highly-animated biography, but it does hold the reader's attention with lucid writing and a good structure. Even its historiographic analyses should be interesting to the non-specialist--they are not dry and technical, instead having an element of the excitement of a mystery--Tyldesley traces clues and leads us toward some possible answers without closing the topic. The book should be useful and interesting for students of the field as well as for the general public--I read the book for a graduate paper, but I intend to send it to a friend to read for fun!

A wonderful piece concerning the life and times of the great Hatchepsut, "Hatchepsut: The Female Pharaoh" gives every possible and credible view concerning its subject. The enigma of Senenmut is discussed, as well as what may have motivated Hatchepsut to make the unprecedented move of assuming the role of Pharaoh. The possible vengence of Thutmose III is covered in all its aspects, and I for one found it compelling that there is evidence he didn't start destroying her monuments until at least twenty years after her death; Joyce also examines why he may have waited so long. The plates are wonderful and compliment well the attempts at reconstructing what Hatchepsut may have looked like. Possible canidates for her still missing mummy are considered at length, especiall the displeasing (for me) but oddly logical choice of the mummy in the newly discovered KV60. I urge you to find out for yourself.

`Had Hatchepsut been born a man, her lengthy rule would almost certainly be remembered for its achievements: its stable government, successful trade missions, and the impressive architectural advances which include the construction of the Deir el-Bahri temple on the west bank of the Nile at Luxor, a building which is still widely regarded as one of the most beautiful in the world. Instead, Hatchepsut's gender has become her most important characteristic, and almost all references to her reign have concentrated not on her policies but on the person relationship and power struggles which many historians have felt able to detect within the claustrophobic early 18th Dynasty Theban royal family.'

Egypt was of course a male-dominated society, but for being so, it produced many strong women, including Hatchepsut, Cleopatra, and Nefertiti. The latter two are far more famous, having been renowned as well more for their gender and gender-attributes (the beauty of their physical form) than for any political or social achievements they might have made (although Cleopatra's foray into Roman politics most likely would have assured her fame).

Hatchepsut took on the outward aspects of male dress and iconography when assuming the power of Pharoah -- while Cleopatra has always been described as 'Queen' Cleopatra, it is perhaps more correct to refer to Hatchepsut as a 'King', a Pharoah, which is a male term with no real feminine equivalent in the language. She even wore a false beard in the manner of Pharoahs of the time to play the role of ruler. She was an eldest daughter of Tuthmosis I, married to her half-brother Tuthmosis II (a regular custom in Egyptian royal families from earliest times to the final dynasty of Cleopatra, whose generation also had such intermarriages), and guardian of her stepson Tuthmosis III. Much of the history of her reign was suppressed by later generations of Egyptians who wanted to prevent another female from assuming royal/divine power.

Joyce Tyldesley (who also wrote the book on `Nefertiti', which I have reviewed recently) has produced a well-researched work exploring the political, social and family climate into which Hatchepsut was thrown. Using historical research and archaeological discoveries, she has produced a marvelous biography, restoring this long-forgotten ruler to the ranks of the Pharoahs.

Hatchepsut was short-tempered and made many mistakes during her twenty-year-long reign. However, she was also a capable and able ruler in many respects. The Tuthmosidian Theban royal family which uneasily straddled the divide between the 17th and 18th Dynasties was a tight-knit but feuding lot. To give themselves stability and legitimacy, they strove to replicate glories of the past, in particular those of the 12th Dynasty. This was an era of unease, due to the quickening pace of technological advance occurring simultaneously with a resurgence of interest in 'traditional' values (much like our own time today, in many respects).

Tyldesley begins with an examination of the general society: the role of pharoah, a divine/absolute ruler upon which almost all society turned; the role of the royal family, the priest and military classes, and the interaction with foreign cultures. From here she proceeds to examine the specifics of the Tuthmoside family, with their warring factions and cooperative ventures designed to shore up a tenuous grasp on the authority of power. Examining Hatchepsut's rise to power, she divides it into two chapters - `Queen of Egypt' and `King of Egypt'. The precise sequence of reigns between the three Tuthmosis rulers and Hatchepsut is still unclear (given the degradation and recasting of monumental and inscription engravings to eliminate Hatchepsut's name) -- it is likely that the authority shifted back and forth, with periods of co-regency during multiple years.

What became of Hatchepsut is a bit of a mystery. She may have been killed by Tuthmosis III who was tired of sharing the reigns of power or waiting for his inheritance. However, this is unlikely given Hatchepsut's advanced age -- nature would take its course in any event. Hatchepsut's mummy has never been definitively identified, nor has any particular tomb been found that might have been hers and hers alone. Multiple sites have been discovered that are possible candidates, but this mystery awaits future discoveries.

This is an interesting, accessible biography which brings to light many recent discoveries and shares contrasting theories of the history of this interesting figure.

As an armchair Egyptologist who enjoys both historical and fictional accounts of ancient Egypt, I found this book very enjoyable. The author's style is clear and easy to read, and while the tone is scholarly it is highly accessible. The events leading to Hatchepsut's ascension are laid out clearly and concisely, which is is a boon to those who might not have their dynasties down pat. It's a wonderful look at a mysterious part of ancient history, and Tyldesly gives several fascinating new interpretations of Hatchepsut's life and ultimate fate.

With a use of the historical and archaeological evidence from various places in Egypt and beyond, an Oxford-educated Joyce Tyldesley has written a well-detailed biography book entitled "Hatchepsut: The Female Pharaoh." The book, as similar to her Nefertiti: Unlocking the Mystery Surrounding Egypt's Most Famous and Beautiful Queen, drives the general readers to experience and to understand the story of the female Pharaoh named Hatchepsut, her historical family background, the history of her memory after her death, and theories of historical scholars who have studied. There are eight chapters in the book with the addition of the "Introduction," which highlights Hatchepsut as a preferred King of Egypt, addresses a brief history of the Dynasty periods, and introduces Manetho who preserved the memory of Hatchepsut.

What came as interesting to which this book explores the relationship between Hatchepsut and her father, Pharaoh Tuthmosis I. There does not appeared to be any negativity between them, and was seen as very positive. Throughout the years of her rule, Hatchepsut honored her father "in every way possible" in order to preserve her direct link to Tuthmosis I as a rightful heir to Egyptian throne (p. 117-8). Since she was born to both Tuthmosis I and Queen Ahmose who were of a royal blood, Hatchepsut believed that she had a direct royal bloodline because her brother-husband, Tuthmosis II, was born to a mother who was not from a royal bloodline. Therefore, she believed that she had a right to rule Egypt regardless of what her gender was. An impression that comes to one's mind from the book is that Hatchepsut needed to rule Egypt in the honor of her father and not for her personal agenda.

Tyldesley also pointed out the creation of Hatchepsut's "divine birth" story as well the role of women in the Theban royal family as evidence for Hatchepsut to be a rightful ruler of Egypt.

The author holds the readers' interest with a clear writing and vivid understanding when it comes to historical biography and theories. The book is well-organized with the visual aspects of maps, figures, and pictures. She has presented a historical analysis that was not dry or technical, and it should be a good advantage for readers' ancient Egyptian knowledge. Tyldesley's book is recommended to both the general readers and historical scholars because the author brought forth a readable and very interesting book.

Hatchepsut... a name erased from monuments despite her importance to Egyptian history. As this book explains through archaeological and historical evidence, she was a remarkable pharaoh (and queen !) having done much for the country. Her expeditions and her relations with the numerous Thoutmosis are discussed in detail. A chapter is dedicated to Senenmut, an important figure in Hatchepsut's reign. Maps, black-and-white illustrations and photographs complete this useful book. Recommended for the interested reader.

I read this book for an essay for school, and I found that Tydesley was one of the few authors who attempted to prove that Hatchepsut (for it IS a correct spelling of her name due to the difficulty in the transliteration of Egyptian Hieroglyphs, which could prefer 'shep' or 'chep' depending on your discipline) was in fact an accepted ruler of Egypt due to the evidence that survives her. This is a rare viewpoint as most of the other authors have rejected her as the woman who usurped the throne from her step-son Tutmosis III (who was only about FOUR at the time he came to power!). A good read for an Egyptologist, or just someone who loves ancient civilizations and ancient personalities.

Finally, a book that deals realistically with Hatchepsut. I first ran across this queen when I was about eleven years old in a book in our school library entitled, The gift of the river;: A history of ancient Egypt. I subsequently ran into her story on many occasions in the course of my reading on ancient history, and as Dr. Tyldesley notes, usually written in the terms of either great disapproval or of romantic melodrama. It occurred to me, even at that young age, that something about the story as it was interpreted by the historians recounting it just didn't make much sense. Why would any ruling queen give the command of the army to any person whose absolute loyalty she had any cause to suspect? Why wouldn't she just discretely bump him off? And if she was really all that appalling, why didn't someone just bump her off? I had already read biographies of Queen Elizabeth I of England and knew that a queen was quite capable of playing "hard ball" with the best of them and could pick competent advisors just as well as any king could. It just didn't add up to me, not at eleven and not since.

Having since gotten a Master's Degree in history and recently taken an interest in English history, I must say that England's experience with monarchy, especially with succession issues, is a very good illustration of just the types of problems that can arise and what types of problems the elite of Egypt might also have been trying to contain during the Tuthmosid period. When power is up for grabs, everything can fall to pieces, leaving it anyone's guess how it will come out. Heads may well roll, but they may not be the heads you expected it to be! More importantly, once they start to roll, sometimes they keep rolling until very few are left unaffected by the bloodshed. Part of the great concern of Henry VIII in his pursuit of a male heir was the avoidance of just that question over succession that had led to violence in the past. The Egyptians of Hatchepsut's time cannot have failed to notice that failed succession in previous dynasties had led to disorder and collapse, the failure of ma'at as the author notes.

It would appear that there had already been a problem over succession earlier in the dynasty, since Amenhotep I had associated the non-related Tuthmosis I, Hatchepsut's father, with him in order to secure a smooth transition. It would appear that this king himself was unsure of the likelihood that his son own son would survive to rule, since the Royal Princess was not married to Tuthmosis II until quite late, as though the family were holding her back for another candidate should it become necessary. From what the author suggests, it would appear that the viability of young Tuthmosis III might have been inquestion, that he was possibly a very young child, even an infant, when Tuthmosis II died. That the Queen Consort should take over as regent on his behalf is hardly surprising. That she waited almost 2 years before making herself king suggests that there may have been something going on that necessitated the move. Though the author suggests a possible threat from collateral family, I'm inclined to believe it may have been a threat from outside. Maybe the latter brought on the former. By making it apparent that Egypt had a strong adult king on the throne, there were less likely to be problems on Egypt's borders, at least none that couldn't be dealt with and without risking the young heir.

As to her relationship with Tuthmosis III, Hatchepsut certainly did nothing that a reigning monarch would not have done; she made him co-regent. Co-regency had been started during Dynasty XII, primarily because of the assassination that had brought that dynasty into power; essentially they weren't going to risk a similar instance in their own rule. It made eminent sense to associate a young junior king with the senior. It gave the younger man time to learn diplomacy, government, and military affairs in a stable environment. It gave the elder a chance to set aside some of the more physically demanding roles of kingship--essentially the two "double teamed" the country and the world. Since it would appear that Hatchepsut may have undertaken military activity early in her reign she probably made Egypt's continued strength known at her borders. Certainly it would appear from his inscriptions and his later military activities that Tuthmosis's military training was not stinted. I think it's safe to say that when he was old enough to command in the field, he probably did. In short the transition took place as usual.

By taking advantage of the inherent duality of the role of pharaoh, Hatchepsut could function as ruler in her own right; that meant dealing with the gods--which was probably something taken very seriously at the time--dealing with possible malcontents in her own country, and presenting the outside world with the face of a stable monarchy. It was the role, not the person that actually mattered. The author notes that the male elite of Egypt made no apparent attempt to unseat the queen, which suggests they were fully aware of the costs to Egypt of doing so. Whatever they may have felt about a female pharoah, these civil servants continued to function as usual.

As far as how the young king felt about the matter of a woman "dominating" him, I suspect, having been raised from childhood by a family member with an interest in preserving their dynasty, he probably had far greater attachment to and respect for her than is evident in the documents. Certainly she kept him safe from other claimants, made certain he was adequately trained and educated--especially as it appears that he was literate and widely read--and then pushed him forward into the limelight when he was fully ready to take the responsibility.

The great flap over Hatchepsut's missing mummy as a sign that her heir "hated" her is hardly a smoking gun; nearly all of the ancient kings and queens were migratory after their deaths, because tomb plundering became a big business in Dynasty XX. There are actually documents of trials and accusations of corruption against high ranking individuals in Thebes over this, even a whiff of an Egyptian mafia "rub-out." I agree with the author, if he did damage her monuments later it arose from political expediency rather than personal enmity. He owed her a lot and probably knew it. Dr. Tyldesley's suggestion that the bulk of the damage was due to much later religious changes under later dynasts is a good one, and one that I had never considered. It certainly made me think.

Great book.

A good book, although the author seems to be more interested in discussing the various ideas and conceptions involving Hatchepsut than in the reign of the female king herself. If you are not already a student of Pharoanic Egypt then this is not a good book to jump into, despite the chapters which outline Egyptian history in general and the 18th Dynasty specifically. Tyldesley does not buy into various conspiracy theories involving the reign of this female king but instead discusses the mindset of the historians and archeologists and how their attitudes resulted in many modern concepts. An interesting book.